Apparatus relating to games and pastimes



' 1,703,672 Feb' 26 1929' E. J. w. HoUsDEN TIMES AMES AND PAS ELATING T0 G APPARATUS R Feb. 26, 1929.

` E. J. W. HOUSDEN APPARATUS RELATING To GAMES AND PASTIMEs Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES ERNEST JAMES WESTCOTT HOUSDN, OF CROYDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS RELATING T0 GAMES AND PASTIMES.

Application mea octoberez, 192s, serial No.

This invention relates to apparatus relating to games and pastimes and has for its object the provision of apparatus which will both facilitate practice of the game of golf and in a measure provide for a substantially Iliew game played with golf clubs and golf al s.

The invention consists broadly of a golf practice appliance comprising a target having a surface of such a degree of plasticity that a golf ball, when driven against it, makes a depression at any portion of its area where such ball strikes which depression may afterwards be smoothed out.

The plasticity. is preferably such that the ball on'striking the target will make a depression and just rebound in a substantially spent condition.

In order that the invention may be the more clearly understood a target structure in accordance therewith will now be described ref erence being made to the accompanying drawy, ings, wherein :f-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the whole structure erected for use.

Figure 2 is a plan of the target proper.

Figure 2^ is a rear elevation of the target proper.

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation to an enlarged scale of part of said structure.

Figure 4`"is a front perspective view to an enlarged scale of part of the target proper.

Thus the target proper consists essentially of a sheet of plastic material 1 located in the cavity of a frame. The plasticity of said material is of such a degree that a golf ball when driven at it from a distance of say ten or twelve feet forms a clearly visible depression such as a and then 'ust rebounds in a substantially spent condition. This target proper is erected in an upright position and a piecelof hemp twine net 2 extends forwardly from the upper, and two side edges of the material 1, as indicated somewhat diagrammatically in `Figure 1, so as to constitute a safety enclosure.

Said frame comprises a rectangular bac-k board 3 (which may be in two parts as shown in Figure 2) and four frame members 4 secured on the front surface thereof lHush with the edges so as to define the cavity in which the material 1 is contained. Said back board may be reinforced by means of three upright members 5 (the outer two of which may beof double thickness as shown) and `four cross members 6 secured at the back of 314,133, and in Great ,Britain July 12, 1927.

said back board respectively by bolts 7 and nails 8 as shown." Alternatively said back board may be made of double ply boarding and not reinforced. To assist in anchoring the material 1 in place a piece of wire netting 9 preferably doubled is secured by means of a number of staples (not shown) against the front surface of the back board 3.

'The net 2 is secured to the edges of the target proper as clearly shown in Figure 3 by means of strips of beading 10 and it should be noted that the members 4 are bevelled so that the front and outer surfaces nearly join as at b. As the drawing clearly shows, this ensures that the outer limits of the front surface of the material 1 are in very close proximity to the netting 2 so that there is no hard edge from which a badly struckball might rebound.

The surface .of thel target is marked out into areas of different value by means of lengths of elastic 11 arranged in concentric rectangles as shown. cated by being passed at the four corners of each rectangle completely through holes 12 inthe target to the back of the back board 3 where they are secured to short cross pegs of wood 13'as shown.

The material 1 is a composition consisting of etroleum jelly and a stifening medium sucas calcium carbonate and china clay. Paraffin wax, barytes, oil and a suitable colouring medium are also preferably added. The following percentages by weight have beenV found satisfactory Petroleum jelly 14 0il 14 Calcium carbonate 25 China clay 25 Barytes 14 Colour' medium `2 Parain wax 6 In manufacture, the frame having been constructed the petroleum jelly and parain wax are boiled together and the calcium carbonate, china clay, barytes and oil are added in small quantities to the boiling'mass the colouring medium being added last. The frame is then laid horizontally with its face up and the boiling composition is poured into the cavity thereof and permitted to cool. The elastic 1l is then located and the netting secured as described.

When a given number of balls have been driven at the target the indentations may be These lengths of elastic are 1o-` easily smoothed out either by the hand or by means of a suitable roller. Should aball strike one of the lengths of elastic it will make a depression behind said elastic; and the latter, by virtue of its resiliency, may be lifted from the surface of the material 1 to enyafterwards be smoothed out and lengths of elastic marking. said surface into areas.

2. A golf practice appliance comprising a target frame affording a suitable cavity, plastic material located within said cavity and formingl a target surface said material being of such a degree of'plasticity that a golf ball, When driven against it, makes a depression at any portion of its area where such ball strikes which depression may afterwards be smoothed out and lengths of elastic marking said surface into areas.

3. A golf practice appliance comprising a target frame'afording a suitable cavity, plastic material located within said cavity and forming a target surface said material being' of such a degree of plasticity that a golf ball,

when driven against it, makes a depression at any portion of its area Where such ball strikes which dep-ression may afterwards vbe smoothed out and lengths of elastic marking said surface into areas and netting secured to saidframe and extending forwardly from the lose proximity of the outer limits of said surace.

il. A golf practice appliance comprising a target frame affording a suitable cavity, plastic material located Within said cavity' and forming a target surface said material being of such ja degree of plasticity that a golf ball, when. driven against it, makes a depression at 'any portion of its area where such ball strikes which depression may afterwards be smoothed out and lengths of elastic marking said surface into areas and means tending to anchor said material Within said frame.

5. A golf practice appliance, consisting of a target comprising a single section having a surface of such a degree of plasticity that a golf ball, When driven against it, makes a depression at any portion of its area Where such ball strikes and just rebounds in a substantially spent condition leaving said depression which may afterwards be smoothed out, said surface comprising petroleum jelly, a sti'lfcning medium and paraffin Wax.

In Witness whereof I affix my signature.

ERNEST JAMES WESTCOTT HOUSDEN. 

